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(No Model.)

FIRE EXTINGUISHER -ND ALARM.

No. 302,980, PatentedAug. 5, 1884.

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(No Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. E.' BUELL.

FIRE BXTINGUISBYBR AND ALARM.y No.Y 302,980. Patented Aug. 5, 1884.

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, ilN ITED Strafrns dstrani erica.

CHARLES E. BUELL, OF NFV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUELL ELEGTRlCAL AND HYDRAULTC MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK.

Flai-2 EXTINGUISHER AND ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 302,980, elated August 5, 1884. Application filed Jnlyl', 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, itin-tty concern:

alarm of the'existence of a fire and for cx tinguishing the same.

The primary object of my invention is to provide for automatically giving notice, through alarm meehanism,of any material diminution of the waterfpressure in the pipe system or the storage-tank or stancl-pipe, which feeds the extinguishing nozzles. Ot' course my presentini-*ention contemplates an extinguishingservice wherein the supply pipes, tanks,

or stand-pipes are kept full of water or otherV extinguishing-duid under pressure; and my alarms are so combined with the extinguishingservice that, upon any diminution of waterpressure therein due to leakage or the fusing or accidental. opening of any sprinkler, the inhabitants of the building protected, as well as the central station or headquarters of the fire-department or sprinkler company,will be instantly notifiedv thereof. v

y My. invention accordingly consists inlthe combination with apipe system, stand-pipe, or tank constructed for the purposes stated, and containing water or other extinguishingluid under pressure, of an alarm or alarms and devices arranged to make said alarmpr alarms operative upon a decrease ofthe pressure within the pipe system, tank, or standpipe. Certain combinations and sub-combinations relatingto this branch of the invention are also hereinafter dened.

My invention further consists in the improvements in the sprinklingnozzle set out in the claims hereto annexed. The sprinklers which l illustrate in this instance are constructed to dischargeopposing streams, the term opposing i being used to define streams that move in diametrically-opposite directions, and to distinguish such streams from ing (Fig. l) a fan,

those which impinge upon each other at au u oblique angle, the latter being defined as intersecting streams.

In the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this description, and in which like parts are indicated by likeletters, Figure 'l represents in elevation an alarm mechanism arranged to illustrate one feature of my invention. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of another embodiment of the invention, showing, among other features, a remote `station provided with an alarm t0 be made operative by electrical means simultaneously with the sounding of the alarm at the building protest-ed, as will be presently described. Fig. 3 is an elevation of still another embodiment, showing an electrical but no mechanical alarm. Fig. i is a view of my sprinkler, shown sealed against a water-pressure, and also of several ofthe parts detached. Fig. 5 is a View ofthe sprinkler in action, and Fig. 6 is a modification of the sprinkler adapted to be differently adjusted. A

Referring to the drawings, A represents a clock-train driven by the weight w, and havf, which interlocks with the lever L, which is rigidly attached to the valve V, `said valve being of well-known construction'. The sprinkler s is one of' a series of sprinklers of any approved construction.

M represents a watermain, stand-pipe, or tank adapted to contain water or other extinguishing-Huid under pressure. The water enters the pipe P of the extinguishing-service from tank M, liowing through thepening controlled by the valve V. When the pipe P becomes filled, the valve Vis forced to its seat and the lever L is 'interlocked with the Woundup clocktrain; so as to retain it wound up in au obvious manner. rihe pressure being equal on both sides of the val ve V, it remains pressed against its seat, with the clocktrain holding its lever rigid, and thus serves to maintain a uniform pressure in the pipe l), cutting olf slight variations. Any Well-known form of pressure-operated device or mechanism may be .employed in place of that shown to release the clock-train. Now, when a sprinkler, s,

is opened by heat or otherwise, the sudden decrease of pressure in the pipe P allows the pressure in the main stand-pipe or tank M to force up the y'alv V and lever L, thereby releasing the clockftrain A, which, in running down, operates through pins aon the side of the rim ofthe wheel of mechanism A the pivoted hammer hin such manner as to sound an alarm on the bell b. In Fig. 2 ythe mechanism A is connected directly to a valve, V, which Ain the position shown is closed, the clock-train assisting to maintain it in such position until a diminution of pressure in the pipe P occurs, when the opening of valve V will release the lever L, and thereby permit the unwinding of the clock-train A, which produces an alarm in manner already s'et forth. By this means the pressure from the main or tank M can be shut off from the pipe P of the extinguishingservicey with obvious advantages. The airchamber B is placed between the valves V and V. Water to any desired pressure is let into pipe P, vand a like pressure -is at the same time stored in the air-chamber B, after which the valve V is turned to cut off" the pressure from the tank or main M, and the clock-train .is interlocked with the lever L, which also adjusts the valve V to a closed position. Now, if a sprinkler, s, opens, the stored pressure in the air-chamber B will exert its force upon valve V, opening the same, and expend its energy upon the water in pipe P, thereby accelerating the flow of water through said pipe. A sudden decrease of the pressure in pipe P makes operative the mechanism A, thus turning on the water-supply and sounding an alarm on the local bell, as before explained.

The wheel-work of the alarm mechanism may be made to serve as atransmitting mechanism of an electric circuit in an obvious manner, or the rod of the hammer h may be akey to an Ielectric circuit, as shown, and by its movements caused to open and close a circuit, z a, to produce an alarm at the remote station B (which may be the fire authorities7 headquarters or the oflice of the extinguisher comH pany) simultaneously with the alarm produced mechanically upon the local bellb.

In Fig. 3 the mechanism A is arranged to control the water-sup ply valve V between the main M and air-chamber B. In this'instance the mechanism A is intcrlo'cked with an armature-lever,v a', of an electro-magnet, m, which is included in a circuit controlled by the pressure-gage G. Another circuit from the same or a separate battery controls an alarm. apparatus, and is arranged so that the handvof the gage will close the alarm-circuit when it is forced up in contact with the stop j, and will close the circuit through the magnet 'm when the hand falls back in contact with the stop i. The stopj is preferably arranged to be reached by the hand of the gage before the greatest pressure is reached in the pipe P. The parts being arranged as described, upon the opening of asprinkler, s, the water is rapidly forced out of the pipe P by the stored pressure in the airchan1ber B, and as the pressure in the pipe P rapidly decreases the hand of the gage is caused to leave the stop j, thus sounding the alarm on the bell b of the apparatus C. As the pressure continues to decrease in the pipe P, the hand of the gage moves toward the stop i, and when it contacts therewith the clocktrain is made operative through the electrical connections between the gage and said clocktrain and the valve V opened, thus turning on the full supply from the tank or main M. The period of time between the sounding of thealarm andthe turning on cf the. main water-supply affords an opportunity for persons to reach the lscene before great water damage has occurred `in the event of an accidental opening of azsprinkler.l

The sprinkler shown in Fig. 4"' consists of a ring-like tube, with openings D D so arranged as to discharge vstreams vertically in opposite directions, in order that the streams will be opposed to each other, and thus more effectually spread in a broken sheet over a desired area.

By varying the diameter of the openings in their relations to each other almost any d esired direction can be given to the spray, and by spirally grooving one or both of the openings a rotary motion can be given to the streams. Any of the well-known' devices for causing sprinklers to deliver a rotary stream may be used.

The openings D D are shown held closed by -the plates f f, With the tube c intermediate.

The screw g has a hole through it in the direction of its length, and is adj usted to press the plates tightly to their seats, the protruding end of screw g being the seat for the lower plate. Tile plates ff are preferably faced by a yielding material to insure a perfect joint. The tube c is of glass, contains a capsule of chlorate of potash sugar-coated with paraffme, waX, or other like protecting film, and immersed in sulphuric acid, and well stoppered, and adapted to burst under the influence of heat.

The sprinkler shown in Fig. 5 is rectangular in form, with square tubes for conveying the Water to the upper opening. In this View water is shown issuing from the openings D D and spreading. This form of sprinkler may be made ornamental, as shown. In Fig. 6, a Vv-shaped sprinkler is shown provided with a rod, k, and a nut adapted to draw the branches of the sprinkler together and clamp the explosive device c. 1

A piece of wood, metal, or glass may be IOO used to hold the plates f f against the openfd Obvious modifications may be made in Vt-he severa-l parts entering into my invention, and i p therefore reserve the right to make all changes falling Within the scope of the claims hereto annexed.

I reserve the right to claim in subsequent applications th .speciiic improvements shown in Figs. 3 and Eb ot' the drawings hereto annexed. f

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. In apparatus for the eXtingiuishment of tires, a system of distributing-pipes, standpipe, tank, or other structure in which Water or other extinguishing-fluid is stored under pressure, combined with mechanism constructed and arranged to be made operative upon a diminution of said pressure, and an alarm constructed and arranged to be sounded by said mechanism when the latter is set in operation by the diminution of the pressure, as aforesaid, substantially as herein set fort-h. 2. A system of distributing-pipes, in which the extinguishing-duid is present under pressureand which is provided with sprinklers constructed to be opened by heat, combined with mechanism constructedaud arranged to be made operative upon a diminution of said pressure, and an alarm constructed and arranged to be sounded by said mechanism when the latter is setin operation, substantially as herein set forth. f

3. In apparatus for the extinguishment oi' lires, a system of distributing-pipes, standpipe, tank, or other structure in which Water Vor other extinguishing-fluid is stored under pressure, combined with mechanism constructed and arranged to be made operative upon a diminution of said pressure, a local-alarm apparatus arranged to be sounded by said mechanisni,and a remote alarm arranged to be made operative simultaneously with the sounding ot the local alarm, substantially as herein set i'orth.

4. A system of distributing-pipes' in which the extinguishing-duid is presentunder pressure, and which is provided with sprinklers Aconstructed to be opened by heat, combined with mechanism arranged to be made operative upon a diminution of said pressure, a local alarm constructed and arranged to be sounded by said mechanism, and a remote alarm arranged to be made operative simultaneously with the sounding of the local alarm, substantially as herein set forth.

5. A system of distributing-pipes in which the extinguishing-duid is present under pressure, and which is provided with sprinklers constructed to be opened by heat, combined with mechanism constructed and arranged to be made operative upon a diminution ot' said pressure, and mechanism controlling the main Water-supply, arranged to be made operative by the first-named mechanism, substantially as herein set fort-h.

6. A. system oi' distributing-pipes in which the extinguishing-Huid is stored under pressure, and which is provided with sprinklers.

constructed to be opened by heat, combined With mechanism constructed and arranged to be made operative upon a diminution of said pressure, an alarm arranged to be sounded by said mechauisin,and mechanism controlling the ina-in water-supply, also arranged to be made operati ve by the first named meehan ism, substantially as set forth.

7. A system of distributing-pipes in which the extinguishing-duid is stored under pressure, and which is provided with sprinklers constructed to be opened by heat, combined with mechanism arranged to be made operative upon a diminution ol said pressure, a localalarm apparatus arranged to be sounded by said mechanism, a remote alarm arranged to be made operative simultaneously with the sounding ot' the local alarm, and mechanism controlling the main Water-supply, also arranged to be made operative by the iirstnamed mechanism, substantially as set forth.

8. Asystem of distrihating-pipes in which the extinguishing-huid is present under pressure, combined with mechanism constructed and arranged to be made operative upon a diminution ot' said pressure, a local alarm arranged to be sounded by said mechanism, an electric circuit, an d a remote alarm eonstru cted to be operated simultaneously with the local valarm by means ofthe iirst-named mechanism acting through said electric circuit, substantially as shown and described.

9. A system ot distributing-pipes in which extinguishing-duid is stored under pressure, and whichis provided with sprinklers constructed to open by heat, combined with mech anism arranged to be made operative upon a diminution of said pressure, an alarm apparatus arranged to be sounded by said mech- 1 anism, and an airchamber arranged to accelera-te the iiow of the extinguishing-fluid from the pipe system when a sprinkler or sprinklers fuse, substantially as herein set forth.

10. The combination, with the distributingpipes containing extinguishing-duid under pressure, and provided with fusible sprinklers, of the main Water-supply valve V', means for releasing the same, and the air-chamber B, the Whole arranged as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

l1. The combination, with the distributingpressure, and provided with fusible sprinklers, of the valves V and V, means for controlling the same, and the air-chamber B, located between said valves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination, with the pipe P, provided with sprinklers, as explained, of the unwinding mechanism A, and alarm apparatus h b, the Whole operating substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, with the pipe P, provided With sprinklers, as explained, oi' the unwinding mechanism A., valve Y', and alarm mechanism 7i. b, substantially as set forth.

TIO

pipes containing extinguishing-duid under120 14. The combination, with the pipe l?, provided With sprinklers, as explained, of the unwinding mechanism A, hammer 71 bell b, wires z z, and contact q, substantially as set forth.

15. A sprinkler having openings arranged to discharge opposing streams, combined with a closing device which will burst by the action of heat, substantially as set forth.

1G. A sprinkler having openings arranged to discharge opposing streams, held normally closed by devices constructed to be burst by the action of heat, combined With means for adjusting said devices against a water-pressure, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination7 with the sprinkler F, having openings D D, ofthe plates f f, intermediate device constructed to release said plates by the action of heat, and the hollow screw g, for adjusting said plates and intermediate device against a Water-pressure, substantially as set forth.

18. In apparatus for extinguishing res, a system of distributing-pipes, a stand-pipe, tank, or other Water-supply under pressure, in combination with means adapted to act by a diminution of said pressure to produce a 

